Album Reviews

Review: Thumbscrew’s ‘Never is Enough’Review: Thumbscrew’s ‘Never is Enough’

Review: Thumbscrew’s ‘Never is Enough’

It hasn't even been a year since Thumbscrew released their superb record in tribute to Anthony Braxton, but the trio…

4 years ago
Reflections Through Geography with Joni Mitchell and Theo Bleckmann and The WesterliesReflections Through Geography with Joni Mitchell and Theo Bleckmann and The Westerlies

Reflections Through Geography with Joni Mitchell and Theo Bleckmann and The Westerlies

Fifty years ago, Joni Mitchell released the most iconic album of her career, one that changed the trajectory of music…

4 years ago
Review: ‘‎R+R=Now Live’Review: ‘‎R+R=Now Live’

Review: ‘‎R+R=Now Live’

If 2020 has shown us anything, it is how quickly circumstances can change. One day you are living your “normal”…

4 years ago
Review: Archie Shepp & Jason Moran’s ‘Let My People Go’Review: Archie Shepp & Jason Moran’s ‘Let My People Go’

Review: Archie Shepp & Jason Moran’s ‘Let My People Go’

Albert Murray once noted that “the blues is not the creation of a crushed-spirited people [but rather] the product of…

4 years ago
Review: Dave Brubeck’s ‘Time OutTakes’ and Bill Evans ‘Live at Ronnie Scott’s’Review: Dave Brubeck’s ‘Time OutTakes’ and Bill Evans ‘Live at Ronnie Scott’s’

Review: Dave Brubeck’s ‘Time OutTakes’ and Bill Evans ‘Live at Ronnie Scott’s’

Dave Brubeck and Bill Evans were the twin Great White Hopes of jazz piano at the apex of the Pax…

4 years ago
Review: Joe Lovano Trio Tapestry’s ‘Garden of Expression’Review: Joe Lovano Trio Tapestry’s ‘Garden of Expression’

Review: Joe Lovano Trio Tapestry’s ‘Garden of Expression’

Neo-traditionalists like Wynton Marsalis and Stanley Crouch have long desired the classification of “jazz” as “America’s classical music.” While this…

4 years ago
Moor Mother and billy woods’ ‘Brass’Moor Mother and billy woods’ ‘Brass’

Moor Mother and billy woods’ ‘Brass’

The first song on BRASS (Backwoodz Studioz, 2020), “Furies”, was the beginning of something special. Although Moor Mother and billy…

4 years ago
Review: Brandee Younger & Dezron Douglas’ ‘Force Majeure’Review: Brandee Younger & Dezron Douglas’ ‘Force Majeure’

Review: Brandee Younger & Dezron Douglas’ ‘Force Majeure’

Black’s Law Dictionary (8th ed.) defines force majeure as “an event that can be neither anticipated nor controlled.” A party…

4 years ago
Review: Susan Alcorn’s ‘Pedernal’Review: Susan Alcorn’s ‘Pedernal’

Review: Susan Alcorn’s ‘Pedernal’

Geography isn’t destiny, but it might explain some things about pedal steel guitarist Susan Alcorn and her new release, Pedernal…

5 years ago
Review: Keith Jarrett’s ‘Budapest Concert’Review: Keith Jarrett’s ‘Budapest Concert’

Review: Keith Jarrett’s ‘Budapest Concert’

On January 24, 1975, Keith Jarrett sat, in pain, at the keys of a decrepit and horribly out-of-tune piano. The…

5 years ago